Wire harness fixing structure and wire harness

ABSTRACT

A wire harness fixing structure includes a plate-like member including a first layer and a second layer softer than the first layer, an electrical wire disposed along the plate-like member, and a fixing member attached to the electrical wire to fix the electrical wire to the plate-like member. The fixing member includes: a through locking piece formed to be able to pass through the first layer and locked to the first layer while passing through the first layer, a regulation piece provided with a space between the regulation piece and the through locking piece to stop the through locking piece from passing through a surface of the plate-like member, and a column connecting the through locking piece and the regulation piece.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a technique of fixing a wire harness toa mounting object.

BACKGROUND ART

A technique of fixing a wire harness to a mounting object is describedin Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example. Patent Document 1 discloses atechnique of fixing a wire harness to a mounting object using a clamp(also referred to as a clip, for example). Patent Document 2 discloses atechnique of fixing a roof harness to a roof lining (also referred to asa head lining or a roof trim, for example).

Herein, when the wire harness is fixed using the clamp as is the casefor Patent Document 1, a hole for fixing the clamp needs to be formed inthe mounting object. However, when the mounting object of the wireharness is a member exposed indoors such as the roof lining described inPatent Document 2, there is a possibility that the clamp may be exposedindoors in a case where a hole for fixing the clamp is formed in themember and the clamp is inserted into and locked to the hole. Asdescribed above, it may not be appropriate in some cases, depending onthe mounting object, to apply the technique of forming the hole forfixing the clamp and fixing the clamp.

Thus, in Patent Document 2, the roof harness is fixed to the roof liningby an adhesive agent such as a pressure sensitive adhesive tape or ahot-melt material.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-10474

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-335329

SUMMARY Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, there is a possibility that the number of manufacturingprocesses in assembling a vehicle increases in a fixing method using theadhesive agent such as the pressure sensitive adhesive tape or thehot-melt material.

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique capable ofsimply fixing a wire harness in assembling a vehicle even to a mountingobject which is not suitable for having a clamp hole to fix a clamp.

Means to Solve the Problem

In order to solve the above problem, a wire harness fixing structureaccording to a first aspect includes: a plate-like member including afirst layer and a second layer and interiorly mounted on a vehicle, thesecond layer stacked on a first main surface of the first layer andsofter than the first layer; and a wire harness including an electricalwire disposed along the plate-like member and a fixing member attachedto the electrical wire to fix the electrical wire to the plate-likemember, wherein the fixing member includes: a through locking piece inwhich a tip portion is formed into a shape of being able to pass througha portion in the first layer where a hole is not formed from a secondmain surface at an opposite side of the first layer from the first mainsurface and is locked to the first main surface while passing throughthe first layer; a regulation piece provided with a space between theregulation piece and the through locking piece to stop the throughlocking piece from passing through a surface of the plate-like member;and a column connecting the through locking piece and the regulationpiece.

The wire harness fixing structure according to a second aspect is thewire harness fixing structure according to the first aspect, wherein theplate-like member further includes a third layer stacked on an oppositeside of the second layer from the first layer and formed harder than thesecond layer.

The wire harness fixing structure according to a third aspect is thewire harness fixing structure according to the first or second aspect,wherein the electrical wire is disposed in a flat state.

The wire harness fixing structure according to a fourth aspect is thewire harness fixing structure according to the third aspect, wherein thewire harness further includes an electrical wire fixing sheet part whichis formed into a sheet and the electrical wire is fixed to by sewing orwelding.

The wire harness fixing structure according to a fifth aspect is thewire harness fixing structure according to any one of the first tofourth aspects, wherein the wire harness further includes a fixingmember attaching sheet part which is formed into a sheet, the fixingmember is attached to, and intervenes between the regulation piece andthe first layer.

The wire harness fixing structure according to a sixth aspect is thewire harness fixing structure according to any one of the first to fifthaspects, wherein the fixing member includes: a first member includingthe through locking piece and the column, a hole formed in the column;and a second member including an insertion part which is inserted intothe hole to maintain a state where the through locking piece is lockedto the plate-like member.

The wire harness fixing structure according to a seventh aspect is thewire harness fixing structure according to any one of the first to sixthaspects, wherein the plate-like member and the fixing member havecharacteristics that the through locking piece of the fixing member canpass through a portion in the plate-like member where a hole is notformed and be locked to the portion.

A wire harness according to an eighth aspect includes: an electricalwire disposed along a plate-like member which includes a first layer anda second layer and is interiorly mounted on a vehicle, the second layerstacked on a first main surface of the first layer and softer than thefirst layer; and a fixing member attached to the electrical wire to fixthe electrical wire to the plate-like member, wherein the fixing memberincludes: a through locking piece in which a tip portion is formed intoa shape of being able to pass through a portion in the first layer wherea hole is not formed from a second main surface at an opposite side ofthe first layer from the first main surface and can be locked to a sideof the first main surface while passing through the first layer; aregulation piece provided with a space between the regulation piece andthe through locking piece to stop the through locking piece from passingthrough a surface of the plate-like member; and a column connecting thethrough locking piece and the regulation piece.

Effects of the Invention

According to the first to eighth aspects, the fixing member can directlypass through the first layer in the plate-like member and be lockedthereto as it is. At this time, the second layer is softer than thefirst layer, thus the through locking piece hardly passes through thesecond layer. Thus, the exposure of the through locking piece can besuppressed. According to the above configuration, the wire harness canbe simply fixed, in assembling the vehicle, even to a mounting objectwhich is not suitable for having a clamp hole to fix a clamp.

When the through locking piece does not pass through the second layer,it is considered that a portion in the second layer pressed by thethrough locking piece is raised. Also in this case, according to thesecond aspect, the third layer is harder than the second layer, thus therise in the third layer is suppressed. Accordingly, when the third layeris located on the indoor side, the rise caused by the through lockingpiece is hardly specified from the indoor side. Even when the throughlocking piece passes through the second layer, the exposure of thethrough locking piece can be suppressed by the third layer. In thiscase, it is considered, for example, that the third layer is harder thanthe through locking piece, thus the passing of the through locking piecewhich has reached the third layer is directly suppressed. It isconsidered, for example, that the thickness of the third layer is largerthan the length dimension of the tip portion of the through lockingpiece exposed from the second layer, thus suppressed is that the throughlocking piece passes through the third layer.

It is considered, for example, when the fixing members are formed intodifferent shapes with the same material, there is nearly a conflictingrelationship between a passing performance (the degree of passingthrough the first layer) and a locking performance (the degree ofdifficulty in getting out when the fixing member is locked after passingthrough the first layer) of the through locking piece. Also in thiscase, according to the third aspect, the electrical wires are disposedin the flat state, thus when the electrical wires vibrate due to avibration of the vehicle, amplitude of vibration can be made small.Thus, even when the locking performance of the through locking piece islow, the fixing member hardly gets out of the plate-like member.Accordingly, both the necessary passing performance and lockingperformance can be easily achieved.

Particularly, according to the fourth aspect, the electrical wires canbe disposed in the flat state. It is also possible to press and attachthe fixing member to the electrical wire fixing sheet part.

Particularly, according to the fifth aspect, when the same type offixing members are used in a plural types of plate-like members eachincluding the first layer with the different thickness, the differencein thickness can be absorbed by the fixing member attaching sheet part.

Particularly, according to the sixth aspect, the insertion part isinserted into the hole, thus easily maintained is a state where thethrough locking piece is locked to the plate-like member. The throughlocking piece can be made small in a state where the insertion part islocated before a position in the hole where the locking state of thethrough locking piece can be maintained. Accordingly, the throughlocking piece can easily pass through the plate-like member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 A schematic exploded perspective view illustrating a wire harnessfixing structure according to an embodiment and an assembling objectthereof.

FIG. 2 A schematic plan view illustrating the wire harness fixingstructure according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 A cross-sectional view of the wire harness fixing structure cutalong a III-III line in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 A schematic perspective view illustrating a wire harnessaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 A schematic perspective view illustrating a modification exampleof the wire harness.

FIG. 6 A schematic perspective view illustrating a fixing memberaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 A schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a firstmodification example of the wire harness fixing structure.

FIG. 8 A schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a secondmodification example of the wire harness fixing structure.

FIG. 9 A schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a thirdmodification example of the wire harness fixing structure.

FIG. 10 An explanation diagram illustrating the wire harness fixed to aplate-like member.

FIG. 11 A schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a modificationexample of electrical wires.

FIG. 12 A schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a firstmodification example of the fixing member.

FIG. 13 A schematic front view illustrating a second modificationexample of the fixing member.

FIG. 14 An explanation diagram illustrating the fixing member accordingto the second modification example elastically deformed.

FIG. 15 A schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the wire harnessfixing structure including the fixing member according to the secondmodification example.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) Embodiment

A wire harness fixing structure according to an embodiment is describedhereinafter. FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded perspective viewillustrating a wire harness fixing structure 1 according to theembodiment and a vehicle body 80 to which the wire harness fixingstructure 1 is to be assembled. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan viewillustrating the wire harness fixing structure 1 according to theembodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the wire harness fixingstructure 1 cut along a line in FIG. 2.

The wire harness fixing structure 1 according to the embodiment includesa plate-like member 10 and a wire harness 20 fixed to the plate-likemember 10.

The plate-like member 10 is a member interiorly mounted on a vehicle.Specifically, the plate-like member 10 includes a first layer 12 and asecond layer 14. Herein, the plate-like member 10 further includes athird layer 16.

The second layer 14 is formed softer than the first layer 12. The thirdlayer 16 is formed harder than the second layer 14. In comparing thefirst layer 12 and the third layer 16, the first layer 12 or the thirdlayer 16 may be harder or they may have the same hardness.

The second layer 14 is stacked on a first main surface 12 a of the firstlayer 12. The third layer 16 is stacked on an opposite side of thesecond layer 14 from the first layer 12. Accordingly, the first layer12, the second layer 14, and the third layer 16 are stacked in thisorder. In the description hereinafter, the plate-like member 10 isinteriorly mounted so that a surface of the plate-like member 10 on aside where the second layer 14 is located with respect to the firstlayer 12 faces an indoor side, but may be interiorly mounted so that asurface of the plate-like member 10 on a side where the first layer 12is located with respect to the second layer 14 faces the indoor side.

More specifically, the plate-like member 10 is described as a rooflining herein. Accordingly, the plate-like member 10 is attached to aninner surface of a ceiling part 82 in the vehicle body 80. However, itis also considered that the plate-like member 10 is a member interiorlymounted on the other part, such as a door trim, in a vehicle. At thistime, the wire harness fixing structure 1 is preferable in a case whereone surface of the plate-like member 10 is exposed indoors.

Known as such a roof lining is a roof lining including a foam resinlayer for purpose of sound absorption or thermal insulation and areinforcement layer provided on both surfaces of the foam resin layer toreinforce the foam resin layer. In the description hereinafter, in theplate-like member 10, the second layer 14 is the foam resin layerdescribed above, and each of the first layer 12 and the third layer 16is the reinforcement layer described above. Applicable to a resin whichis a material of the foam resin layer are, for example, polyurethaneseries resin, polypropylene series resin, and modified polyphenyleneether series resin, for example. Considered as a configuration of thereinforcement layer is that a plate material provided separately fromthe foam resin layer is joined to a plate material constituting the foamresin layer. Considered in this case as the plate material constitutingthe reinforcement layer is, for example, a resin plate material, a platematerial made of glass fiber, carbon fiber, basalt fiber, natural fiber,and organic fiber, or a non-woven cloth. A so-called skin layer is alsoconsidered as the reinforcement layer. The skin layer is a hard layerformed, at a time of forming the foam resin layer, of the same resin onthe surface of the foam resin layer. Types of the first layer 12 and thethird layer 16 may be the same or different from each other.

When the plate-like member 10 is the roof lining, considered is that asurface skin layer not shown in the drawings is stacked on an oppositeside of the third layer 16 from the second layer 14. The surface skinlayer is formed of a material such as a non-woven cloth, a woven cloth,or a knitted cloth, for example. A main surface of the surface skinlayer at an opposite side of the surface skin layer from the third layer16 is defined as an indoor side surface of the plate-like member 10, andis exposed indoors. Also considered is that a film, for example, isstacked as a rear surface layer on an opposite side of the first layer12 from the second layer 14. The first main surface 12 a in the firstlayer 12 or a main surface of the rear surface layer, in the case wherethe rear surface layer is stacked, at an opposite side of the rearsurface layer from the first layer 12 is defined as a vehicle body 80side surface in the plate-like member 10. The indoor side surface in theplate-like member 10 is simply referred to as the front surface and thevehicle body 80 side surface in the plate-like member 10 is referred toas the rear surface in some cases hereinafter.

A thickness of each layer in the plate-like member 10 is appropriatelyset based on a specification required for the plate-like member 10.There may be a case herein that the plate-like member 10 partiallyincludes a portion having a different thickness. Considered, forexample, is that the plate-like member 10 formed into a flat plate-likeshape once is heated and cold-pressed, thereby being partially bent anddeformed, and is molded into a desired shape. In this case, there may bea case where a thickness of a portion bent and deformed by heating andcold-pressing is smaller than that of a portion not bent and deformed.

An opening 18 is formed in the plate-like member 10. The opening 18 is apart where an electrical component such as an illumination lamp isdisposed, for example. Accordingly, the wire harness 20 is disposed onthe plate-like member 10 to avoid the opening 18.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the wire harness 20according to the embodiment.

The wire harness 20 includes electrical wires 22 and a fixing member 50.Herein, the wire harness 20 further includes an electrical wire fixingsheet part 30. Herein, the wire harness 20 further includes a fixingmember attaching sheet part 40.

The electrical wires 22 are disposed along the plate-like member 10.More specifically, the electric wires 22 are disposed to have an overlapwith the plate-like member 10 in at least a part of a region along alongitudinal direction. It is considered that insulated electrical wireseach including a core wire and an insulating covering for covering thecore wire, for example, are used as the electrical wires 22. The corewire is made of a conductive material such as copper or aluminum. Thecore wire may be a single wire or a twisted wire. The insulatingcovering may be formed by extrusion molding, for example, a resin suchas polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP)around the core wire or by applying, for example, varnish (also referredto as an enamel coating) around the core wire and baking the varnish.

The number of the electrical wires 22 may be at least one. Herein, theplurality of electrical wires 22 are included. The plurality ofelectrical wires 22 are disposed in a flat state on the plate-likemember 10. In the example described in the present embodiment, theplurality of electrical wires 22 extend from the outside of theplate-like member 10 toward the plate-like member 10 in a bundled form.At this time, the plurality of electrical wires 22 are halfway branched,and each of the branched electrical wires 22 extends toward a pluralityof parts in the plate-like member 10. At this time, each branch-linepart 23 is branched in a position close to a rim of the plate-likemember 10, and extends through a path as short as possible to a positionof a destination member 90, which is the other party of connection,while avoiding portions inappropriate for the arrangement of theelectrical wires 22 such as the opening 18. In the example illustratedin FIG. 2, all terminal parts of the branch-line parts 23 are connectedto the destination members 90 on the plate-like member 10, however, someof the terminal parts may pass through the plate-like member and extendto a rear side of the vehicle. The destination member 90 is consideredan illumination member, a sensor, and an antenna, for example.

Each branch-line part 23 is connected to the destination member 90mounted on the vehicle via a connector 24 provided on an end of thebranch-line part 23.

The electrical wire fixing sheet part 30 is formed into a sheet. Theelectrical wires 22 are fixed to the electrical wire fixing sheet part30. A path of the electric wires 22 is thereby regulated. A materialconstituting the electrical wire fixing sheet part 30 is notparticularly limited. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 4,the electrical wires 22 are sewn to the electrical wire fixing sheetpart 30 with a thread 32, thereby being fixed to electrical wire fixingsheet part 30. Applicable is the electrical wire fixing sheet part 30 towhich the electrical wires 22 can be sewn.

Applicable as a method of sewing the electrical wires 22 is a sewingusing a sewing machine or a sewing by hand obviously. When theelectrical wires 22 are sewn using the sewing machine, considered is acase where a needle thread and a bobbin thread in the sewing machine areprepared separately from the electrical wires 22 or a case where theelectrical wires 22 are used as one of the needle thread and the bobbinthread in the sewing machine.

However, the method of fixing the electrical wires 22 to the electricalwire fixing sheet part 30 is not limited to the sewing. For example, theelectrical wires 22 may be fixed to the electrical wire fixing sheetpart 30 by welding as is a case for a wire harness 120 illustrated inFIG. 5. Applicable in this case is the electrical wire fixing sheet part30 enabling the welding of the electrical wires 22. Applicable as thewelding method is ultrasonic welding, laser welding, or thermal welding,for example. The electrical wires 22 may be fixed to the electrical wirefixing sheet part 30 by an adhesive agent or a pressure sensitiveadhesive tape, for example. It is also applicable that the electricalwire fixing sheet part includes a two-layered sheet material and theelectrical wires 22 are sandwiched and fixed by the two-layered sheetmaterial.

Herein, the sheet material constituting the electrical wire fixing sheetpart 30 is separately provided for each branch-line part 23, however,there may also be a case where the plurality of branch-line parts 23 arefixed to one sheet material.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the electrical wires 22 aredisposed in a straight line form on the electrical wire fixing sheetpart 30, however, there may be a portion halfway bent and disposed. Forexample, the branch-line part 23 a is bent and disposed to avoid theopening 18, and the parts on either side of the bent portion are fixedto the different sheet materials, however, the bent portion and theeither side thereof may be fixed to the same one sheet material. When anextension direction of the electrical wires 22 along the shortest pathfrom the branch position and a fitting direction of the connector 24provided on the end of the electrical wires 22 and a receiving connectorprovided on the destination member 90 are different from each other, itis considered that part of the electrical wires 22 around part extendingfrom the connector 24 located on the end of the electrical wires 22 isbent. In this case, also considered is that the bent portion is fixed tothe electrical wire fixing sheet part 30.

The electrical wire fixing sheet part 30 includes one sheet materialcovering the electrical wires 22 from one side. The electrical wires 22are disposed on one main surface of the electrical wire fixing sheetpart 30 and fixed thereto. The wire harness 20 is disposed on theplate-like member 10 so that the sheet material is located on the sideof the plate-like member 10. However, the wire harness 20 is disposed onthe plate-like member 10 so that the electrical wires 22 are located onthe side of the plate-like member 10. There may be a case where theelectrical wires 22 halfway transfer from one main surface side to theother main surface side of the electrical wire fixing sheet part 30.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the fixing member 50according to the embodiment.

The fixing member 50 is attached to the electrical wires 22. The fixingmember 50 is a member for fixing the electrical wires 22 to theplate-like member 10. Specifically, the fixing member 50 includes athrough locking piece 52, a regulation piece 54, and a column 56. Thefixing member 50 is formed of a resin or metal, for example, as amaterial. The fixing member 50 is considered an integrated moldedcomponent using molds, for example.

In the through locking piece 52, a tip portion 52 a is formed to be ableto pass through the first layer 12 from a second main surface 12 b at anopposite side of the first layer 12 from the first main surface 12 a.That is to say, the through locking piece 52 is formed to be able topass through the plate-like member 10 from the rear surface of theplate-like member 10. The through locking piece 52 can pass through aportion in the plate-like member 10 where a hole is not formed. Thethrough locking piece 52 is locked to the first main surface 12 a whilepassing through the first layer 12. The through locking piece 52 isformed into a tapered shape, for example, (a cone shape herein). Thethrough locking piece 52 is formed into the tapered shape, thus moldrelease can be easily performed when the fixing member 50 is integrallymolded using molds. A bottom part 52 b of a cone is a part connected tothe column 56, and is a part locked to the first main surface 12 a whilepassing through the first layer 12. A vertex of the cone is the tipportion 52 a in the through locking piece 52.

The regulation piece 54 is provided with a space between the regulationpiece 54 and the through locking piece 52. The regulation piece 54 stopsthe through locking piece 52 from passing through the surface of theplate-like member 10. For example, the regulation piece 54 is hooked toand locked to the second main surface 12 b of the first layer 12 or therear surface of the plate-like member 10, thereby stopping the throughlocking piece 52 from proceeding forward in a passing-through directionany more. Accordingly, any shape and size of the regulation piece 54 areapplicable as long as the through locking piece 52 can be hooked to aperipheral edge of a hole formed in the first layer 12 and a layercloser to the rear surface than the first layer 12 when the throughlocking piece 52 passes through the first layer 12 and the layer closerto the rear surface. Herein, the regulation piece 54 is formed into thedisk shape having the same shaft center as the through locking piece 52.In this case, the regulation piece 54 is preferably formed equal to orlarger than the through locking piece 52. As illustrated in FIG. 6, anouter periphery of the main surface at an opposite side of theregulation piece 54 from a surface connected to the column 56 (referredto as the bottom surface of the regulation piece 54 in some caseshereinafter) preferably has a chamfered shape as rounded shape.

The column 56 connects the through locking piece 52 and the regulationpiece 54. Herein, the column 56 is formed into a column shape (acylindrical shape herein) thinner than the bottom part 52 b of thethrough locking piece 52 and thinner than the regulation piece 54. Ashaft center of the column 56 coincides with the shaft center of thethrough locking piece 52 and the shaft center or the regulation piece54. At least part of the column 56 is located in the first layer 12 in astate where the fixing member 50 is inserted into the plate-like member10. At least part of the column 56 is located in the fixing memberattaching sheet part 40 in a state where the fixing member 50 isattached to the fixing member attaching sheet part 40.

The fixing member attaching sheet part 40 is formed into a sheet. Thefixing member attaching sheet part 40 is a part to which the fixingmember 50 is attached. The fixing member attaching sheet part 40intervenes between the regulation piece 54 and the first layer 12. Forexample, the fixing member attaching sheet part 40 is considered thesame sheet material as the electrical wire fixing sheet part 30. In thiscase, in one sheet material, a part which is not used for fixing theelectrical wires 22, for example, a part to which the thread 32 is notsewn or a part which is not welded to the covering of the electricalwires 22 can be used as the fixing member attaching sheet part 40. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 2, the fixing member attaching sheetpart 40 is provided on a lateral side of the electrical wires 22, thatis to say, a position where the fixing member 50 is attached is aposition lateral to the electrical wires 22, however, this configurationis not necessary. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the fixingmember 50 may be attached between the plurality of electrical wires 22which are parallelly arranged. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8,the fixing member 50 may be attached below the electrical wires 22. Inthis case, it is considered, for example, that the fixing member 50 isattached to a part of one sheet material, which has an overlap with theelectrical wires 22 but the electrical wires 22 are not fixed to, in astate where a part of a region in the electrical wires 22 along thelongitudinal direction is not fixed to the one sheet material.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a fixing member attaching sheetpart 140 may be provided separately from the electrical wire fixingsheet part 30 and joined to the electrical wire fixing sheet part 30.Considered as a joining method are welding or a pressure sensitiveadhesive double sided tape, for example, as well as an adhesive agent142. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the fixing member attachingsheet part 140 is joined to a main surface 30 b of the electrical wirefixing sheet part 30 at an opposite side of the electrical wire fixingsheet part 30 from a main surface 30 a where the electrical wires 22 aredisposed, but may be joined to the main surface 30 a where theelectrical wires 22 are disposed In this case, the electrical wires 22may be sandwiched between the fixing member attaching sheet part 140 andthe electrical wire fixing sheet part 30.

In the same manner, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the fixing members 50 maybe provided on both lateral sides of the electrical wires 22. Needlessto say, the fixing members 50 may be provided on both lateral sides ofthe electrical wires 22 also in a case where the fixing member attachingsheet part 40 and the electrical wire fixing sheet part 30 are made upof one sheet material as illustrated in FIG. 2.

When the fixing member 50 is attached to the fixing member attachingsheet part 40, a hole through which the fixing member 50 is inserted maybe or may not be previously provided in the sheet material constitutingthe fixing member attaching sheet part 40. When the hole through whichthe fixing member 50 is inserted is previously provided, the hole maypass the through locking piece 52 or the regulation piece 54. When thehole is passed through by the through locking piece 52, it is consideredthat the hole is formed into a circular shape smaller than the bottompart 52 b of the through locking piece 52, for example. For example,when the hole is passed through by the regulation piece 54, it isconsidered that the hole is formed into a slit-like shape havingsubstantially the same length dimension as a diameter of the regulationpiece 54. When the hole through which the fixing member 50 is insertedis not previously provided, it is considered that the through lockingpiece 52 is stuck into and passes through the fixing member attachingsheet part 40.

Described herein is an operation of fixing the wire harness 20 to theplate-like member 10 using the fixing member 50. FIG. 10 is anexplanation diagram illustrating the wire harness 20 fixed to theplate-like member 10.

Firstly, prepared as illustrated in FIG. 3 is the wire harness 20 inwhich the fixing member 50 is fixed to the electrical wires 22. Then,the wire harness 20 is disposed in a form corresponding to anarrangement form on the plate-like member 10.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the tip portion 52 a of thethrough locking piece 52 in the fixing member 50 is directed to the rearsurface of the plate-like member 10. At this time, a part of theplate-like member 10 located in front of the through locking piece 52 isa part where the hole is not previously formed. In this state, thebottom surface of the regulation piece 54 is pressed to insert thethrough locking piece 52 into the plate-like member 10 from the rearsurface.

Then, when the regulation piece 54 is hooked to the rear surface of theplate-like member 10 via the fixing member attaching sheet part 40, thefurther pressing is stopped. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 3, thethrough locking piece 52 passes through the first layer 12, and thebottom part 52 b of the through locking piece 52 is locked to the firstmain surface 12 a of the first layer 12. The bottom part 52 b of thethrough locking piece 52 may be locked to the first main surface 12 a ofthe first layer 12 while involving a part of the second layer 14.

Herein, when the bottom part 52 b of the through locking piece 52 islocked to the first main surface 12 a of the first layer 12, it isconsidered that the through locking piece 52 can be hooked by anoccurrence of at least one of a first hooking state and a second hookingstate described below, for example.

Firstly, the first hooking state is as follows. That is to say, when thethrough locking piece 52 is inserted into the first layer 12, thethrough locking piece 52 is elastically deformed in a manner that adiameter of the bottom part 52 b decreases under reaction force from thefirst layer 12. When the through locking piece 52 passes through thefirst layer 12 in this state, the state where the through locking piece52 is elastically deformed is reduced by reason that the second layer 14is softer than the first layer 12. Thus, the bottom part 52 b of thethrough locking piece 52 extends outside the hole formed in the firstlayer 12 in accordance with the passing of the through locking piece 52,thus can be hooked to the peripheral edge of the hole.

The second hooking state is as follows. That is to say, when the throughlocking piece 52 is inserted into the first layer 12, the first layer 12is elastically deformed to be radially spread with respect to thethrough locking piece 52 under force from the through locking piece 52.The hole formed in the first layer 12 in accordance with the passing ofthe through locking piece 52 in this state gets smaller than the bottompart 52 b of the through locking piece 52 in accordance with thereduction in the elastic deformation of the first layer 12 after thepassing of the through locking piece 52. Thus, the bottom part 52 b ofthe through locking piece 52 can be hooked to the peripheral edge of thehole.

At this time, it is preferable that the through locking piece 52 canpass through the first layer 12 to such a degree that a worker can makethe through locking piece 52 pass through the first layer 12 by pressingthe bottom surface of the regulation piece 54 with a finger WS asillustrated in FIG. 10. The degree of passing of the through lockingpiece 52 through the first layer 12 is considered to be changed inaccordance with a shape of the through locking piece 52, particularly asharpness of the tip portion 52 a of the through locking piece 52 andproperties (hardness and elasticity) of materials constituting thethrough locking piece 52 and the first layer 12, for example.

It is preferable that the through locking piece 52 locked to the firstmain surface 12 a of the first layer 12 can hardly get out of the firstlayer 12 to such a degree that it does not get out during use of thevehicle. The degree of difficulty that the through locking piece 52locked to the first main surface 12 a of the first layer 12 gets out ofthe first layer 12 is considered to be changed in accordance with ashape of the through locking piece 52, particularly a degree ofextension of the bottom part 52 b of the through locking piece 52 withrespect to the hole formed in the first layer 12 after the throughlocking piece 52 has passed through the hole and a property (hardnessand elasticity) of a material constituting the through locking piece 52and the first layer 12, for example.

Herein, a sum of a length dimension of the column 56 and a heightdimension of the through locking piece 52 is preferably equal to orsmaller than a sum of a thickness dimension of the fixing memberattaching sheet part 40 and a thickness dimension of the plate-likemember 10, and is more preferably equal to or smaller than a sum of thethickness dimension of the fixing member attaching sheet part 40 and athickness dimension from the second layer 14 to the rear surface in theplate-like member 10. Accordingly, it can be suppressed more reliablythat the through locking piece 52 passes through the plate-like member10 to be exposed out of the front surface. When the sum of the lengthdimension of the column 56 and the height dimension of the throughlocking piece 52 is larger than the sum of the thickness dimension ofthe fixing member attaching sheet part 40 and the thickness dimension ofthe plate-like member 10, it is considered that the third layer 16 isformed so that the fixing member 50 cannot pass through the third layer16 for purpose of suppressing the through locking piece 52 passingthrough the plate-like member 10 and exposed out of the front surface.

The length dimension of the column 56 is preferably equal to or largerthan a thickness dimension from the first layer 12 to the rear surfacein the plate-like member 10, and is more preferably equal to or largerthan a sum of the thickness dimension of the fixing member attachingsheet part 40 and the thickness dimension from the first layer 12 to therear surface in the plate-like member 10. Accordingly, the throughlocking piece 52 can pass through the first layer 12, and the bottompart 52 b of the through locking piece 52 can be hooked to the firstmain surface 12 a of the first layer 12 more reliably.

There may be a case where one plate-like member 10 includes a portionhaving a different thickness as described above. Also in this case, thefixing member attaching sheet part 40 intervenes between the regulationpiece 54 and the first layer 12, and is compressed in some cases, thusthe fixing member attaching sheet part 40 can absorb the difference inthe thickness dimension of the plate-like member 10. Accordingly, onefixing member 50 can suffice for the portion having the differentthickness in the plate-like member 10.

Subsequently, all the fixing members 50 are pressed into and locked tothe plate-like member 10, thus the wire harness 20 can be fixed to theplate-like member 10. When the plurality of branch-line parts 23 areincluded, it is applicable that one branch-line part 23 is disposed andthe fixing member 50 provided on the branch-line part 23 is pressed intothe plate-like member 10, and subsequently, the other branch-line part23 is disposed. It is also applicable that the operation of pressing thefixing member 50 into the plate-like member 10 is performed after all ofthe branch-line parts 23 are disposed.

According to the above configuration, the fixing member 50 can directlypass through the first layer 12 in the plate-like member 10 and belocked thereto as it is. At this time, the second layer 14 is softerthan the first layer 12, thus the through locking piece 52 hardly passesthrough the second layer 14. Thus, the exposure of the through lockingpiece 52 can be suppressed. According to the above configuration, thewire harness 20 can be simply fixed, in assembling the vehicle, even toa mounting object which is not suitable for having a clamp hole to fix aclamp. The fixing member 50 can be previously attached to the electricalwires 22, thus the number of manufacturing processes in assembling thevehicle can be reduced also on this point.

When the through locking piece 52 does not pass through the second layer14, it is considered that a portion in the second layer 14 pressed bythe through locking piece 52 is raised. Also in this case, the thirdlayer 16 is harder than the second layer 14, thus the rise in the thirdlayer 16 is suppressed. Accordingly, when the third layer 16 is locatedon the indoor side, the rise caused by the through locking piece 52 ishardly specified from the indoor side. Even when the through lockingpiece 52 passes through the second layer 14, the exposure of the throughlocking piece 52 can be suppressed by the third layer 16. In this case,it is considered, for example, that the third layer 16 is harder thanthe through locking piece 52, thus the passing of the through lockingpiece 52 which has reached the third layer 16 is directly suppressed, orthe third layer 16 is harder than the first layer 12, thus the throughlocking piece 52 cannot pass through the third layer 16 with the forceto pass through the first layer 12. It is considered, for example, thatthe thickness of the third layer 16 is larger than the length dimensionof the tip portion of the through locking piece 52 exposed from thesecond layer 14, thus suppressed is that the through locking piece 52passes through the third layer 16.

It is considered, for example, when the fixing members 50 are formedinto different shapes with the same material, there is nearly aconflicting relationship between a passing performance (the degree ofpassing through the first layer 12) and a locking performance (thedegree of difficulty in getting out when the fixing member 50 is lockedafter passing through the first layer 12) of the through locking piece52. Also in this case, the electrical wires 22 are disposed in the flatstate, thus when the electrical wires 22 vibrate due to a vibration ofthe vehicle, amplitude of vibration can be made small. Thus, even whenthe locking performance of the through locking piece 52 is low, thefixing member 50 hardly gets out of the plate-like member 10.Accordingly, both the necessary passing performance and lockingperformance can be easily achieved.

The electrical wire fixing sheet part 30 is provided, thus theelectrical wires 22 can be easily disposed in the flat state. It is alsopossible to press and attach the fixing member 50 in an empty space ofthe sheet material constituting the electrical wire fixing sheet part30.

When the same type of fixing members 50 are used in a plural types ofplate-like members 10 each including the first layer 12 with thedifferent thickness, the difference in thickness can be absorbed by thefixing member attaching sheet part 40.

Modification Example

In the embodiment described above, the plurality of electrical wires 22are disposed in the flat state on the plate-like member 10, however,this configuration is not necessary. As illustrated in FIG. 11, theelectrical wires 22 may be bundled. In the example illustrated in FIG.11, the electrical wires 22 are bundled to have a circular crosssection, but may be bundled to have the other cross-sectional shape.

In the embodiment described above, the through locking piece 52 in thefixing member 50 has the tapered shape, however, this configuration isnot necessary. For example, as is the case for a fixing member 150illustrated in FIG. 12, a through locking piece 152 may be formed into ashape that an outer edge of a bottom part 152 b protrudes toward theside of the regulation piece 54, in other words, a shape that a conehaving a height lower than a cone with the bottom part 152 b is removedfrom the side of the bottom part 152 b. When the through locking piece152 is formed into the shape illustrated in FIG. 12, the bottom part 152b can be elastically deformed easily in a direction in which a diameterdecreases. The bottom part 152 b can also be elastically deformed in adirection in which the diameter increases.

FIG. 13 is a schematic front view illustrating a second modificationexample of the fixing member 50. A fixing member 250 according to thesecond modification example is different from the fixing member 50 inthat the fixing member 250 can maintain a locking state of the throughlocking piece. Specifically, the fixing member 250 includes a firstmember 251 and a second member 260.

The first member 251 includes a through locking piece 252, a regulationpiece 254, and a column 256. The through locking piece 252, theregulation piece 254, and the column 256 are formed into shapes similarto through locking piece 52, the regulation piece 54, and the column 56described above, respectively (the column 256 is slightly thicker thanthe column 56 herein). In the first member 251, a hole 257 and a throughhole 258 are formed in the column 256.

The hole 257 extends from an opening in a bottom surface of theregulation piece 254 toward the through locking piece 252. Herein, thehole 257 has a bottom, and a position of the bottom is set to a positionof the through locking piece 252. However, the position of the bottom ofthe hole 257 may not reach the position of the through locking piece252. It is also applicable that the hole 257 passes to a tip portion ofthe through locking piece 252, thus the hole 257 does not have thebottom.

The through hole 258 is formed to reach, from one position in a sidesurface of the column 256, an opposite position. The hole 257 and thethrough hole 258 communicate with each other. It is also applicable thatthe through locking piece 252 is not formed into the cone shape but ashape extending from the column 256 toward both lateral sides. In thiscase, the through locking piece may be formed in a position sandwichingthe through hole 258 formed in the column 256.

The hole 257 is formed in the first member 251, thus as illustrated inFIG. 14, a bottom part of the through locking piece 252 is elasticallydeformed to be small easily when the through locking piece 252 passesthrough the plate-like member 10. In the similar manner, the throughhole 258 is formed, thus as illustrated in FIG. 14, the bottom part ofthe through locking piece 252 is elastically deformed to be small easilywhen the through locking piece 252 passes through the plate-like member10. The through hole 258 is formed, thus molds can be easily releasedwhen the first member 251 is molded using the molds at a time of forminga concave portion 268 described hereinafter in the hole 257.

The second member 260 includes an insertion part 262 insertable into thehole 257 and an insertion regulation piece 264 preventing an excessinsertion of the insertion part 262 into the hole 257.

The insertion part 262 is formed into a rod-like shape. The insertionpart 262 is inserted into the hole 257, thus it can be suppressed thatthe through locking piece 252 in the locking state is elasticallydeformed to be small. Accordingly, the hole 257 and the insertion part262 function as a maintaining part maintaining the locking state of thethrough locking piece 252.

It is preferable that the first member 251 and the second member 260 canbe locked to each other in a state where an insertion depth of theinsertion part 262 inserted into the hole 257 is equal to a first depth.The first depth is a depth that the locking state of the through lockingpiece 252 locked to the plate-like member 10 can be maintained, and is adepth that the insertion part 262 reaches a back of the hole 257.

Furthermore, it is more preferable that the first member 251 and thesecond member 260 can be locked to each other in a state where theinsertion depth of the insertion part 262 inserted into the hole 257 isequal to a second depth. The second depth is set smaller than the firstdepth. The second depth is a depth that the insertion part 262 insertedinto the hole 257 hardly prevent the elastic deformation of the throughlocking piece 252 when the first member 251 passes through theplate-like member 10. For example, it is considered that a wire harness220 has a configuration that the first member 251 in the fixing member250 is attached to the fixing member attaching sheet part 40 and thesecond member 260 is locked to the first member 251 in a position of thesecond depth. In this case, the wire harness 220 is transported to avehicle assembly plant, and after the through locking piece 252 passesthrough the plate-like member 10 and is locked thereto, the secondmember 260 is further inserted into the first member 251. Then, thesecond member 260 is locked to the first member 251 in a position of thefirst depth, thereby constituting a wire harness fixing structure 201.

As the configuration that the first member 251 and the second member 260can be locked in the state where the insertion depth of the insertionpart 262 inserted into the hole 257 is the first depth and the seconddepth, it is considered that a protrusion 267 is formed on one of aninner peripheral surface of the hole 257 and an outer peripheral surfaceof the insertion part 262 and the concave portion 268 to which theprotrusion 267 is locked is formed in the other one of them. Herein, theconcave portion 268 is formed in the inner peripheral surface of thehole 257. The protrusion 267 is formed on the outer peripheral surfaceof the insertion part 262. Herein, two concave portions 268 a and 268 bare formed with a space therebetween along a depth direction of the hole257. A state where the protrusion 267 is locked to the concave portion268 a formed in a position close to the back of the hole 257 is a statewhere the insertion depth of the insertion part 262 inserted into thehole 257 is the first depth. A state where the protrusion 267 is lockedto the concave portion 268 b formed in a position close to an entranceof the hole 257 is a state where the insertion depth of the insertionpart 262 inserted into the hole 257 is the second depth.

At this time, in the protrusion 267 and the concave portion 268, lockingforce acting backward in the insertion direction of the second member260 with respect to the first member 251 is larger than locking forceacting forward in the insertion direction. That is to say, theprotrusion 267 and the concave portion 268 have further effect ofpreventing the second member 269 from getting out of the first member251. Herein, the insertion regulation piece 264 makes up for theregulation on the second member 260 moving forward in the insertiondirection with respect to the first member 251 at the first depth.

The insertion regulation piece 264 is formed into a flat plate-likeshape (circular plate-like shape herein) in the manner similar to theregulation piece 254, for example. The insertion regulation piece 264 isformed smaller than the regulation piece 254 herein, but may be formedequal to or larger than the regulation piece 254. The insertionregulation piece 264 can be hooked into a peripheral edge of the hole257 in the state where the insertion part 262 is inserted into the hole257 at the first depth. Accordingly, suppressed is the further insertionof the insertion part 262 into the hole 257.

Herein, the shape of the inner peripheral surface of the hole 257 andthe shape of the outer peripheral surface of the insertion part 262 arenot particularly limited, thus a circular shape or a rectangular shapemay also be applicable. The shape of the inner peripheral surface of thehole 257 and the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the insertionpart 262 may be the same or different from each other.

The insertion part 262 may be formed equal to or larger than the hole257. When the insertion part 262 is formed larger than the hole 257,also applicable is the configuration that the through locking piece 252is spread by the insertion of the insertion part 262. The insertion part262 may be formed smaller than the hole 257 as long as the insertionpart 262 can maintain the locking state of the through locking piece252.

Also considered is that the insertion part 262 and the hole 257 areformed so that a relative size thereof differs along a longitudinaldirection. It is considered in this case that, for example, theinsertion part is formed equal to or smaller than the hole in acorresponding part of the insertion part and the hole between a positionwhere the insertion part is firstly inserted into the hole and theposition of the second depth, and the insertion part is formed largerthan the hole in a part corresponding to a part between the second depthand the first depth. In this case, the insertion part is equal to orsmaller than the hole until the insertion part reaches the position ofthe second depth, thus insertion force can be reduced. The insertionpart is larger than the hole between the position of the second depthand the position of the first depth, thus the insertion force can beincreased, and an erroneous insertion of the insertion part before beinglocked to the plate-like member 10 can be suppressed. A part of theinsertion part larger than the hole enables the extension of the throughlocking piece 252 after the insertion part is locked to the plate-likemember 10.

The electrical wires 22 is preferably fixed to the plate-like member 10using the fixing member 250 described above in the following manner.

That is to say, the first member 251 in the fixing member 250 isattached to the fixing member attaching sheet part 40. Then, the wireharness 220 in which the first member 251 is attached to the fixingmember attaching sheet part 40 is transported to a vehicle assemblyplant. At this time, the second member 260 is preferably transported ina state of being locked to the first member 251 in the position of thesecond depth as described above. However, the second member 260 may betransported in a state of not being locked to the first member 251, thatis to say, transported separately from the first member 251.

Next, in the vehicle assembly plant, the first member 251 in the wireharness 220 passes through the plate-like member 10 in a state where thewire harness 220 is disposed along the plate-like member 10. At thistime, as described above, the hole 257 and the through hole 258 areformed, thus the through locking piece 252 is elastically deformed to besmall easily. Thus, the first member 251 can pass through the plate-likemember 10 easily.

After the first member 251 passes through the plate-like member 10, thesecond member 260 is further inserted into the first member 251 andlocked in the position of the first depth. According to the aboveconfiguration, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the fixing member 250 passesthrough the plate-like member 10 and is locked thereto, and furthermore,the locking state is maintained.

The configurations described in the embodiments and modificationexamples thereof can be appropriately combined as long as they are notcontradictory.

Although the present invention is described in detail, the foregoingdescription is in all aspects illustrative and does not restrict theinvention. It is therefore understood that numerous modifications andvariations can be devised without departing from the scope of theinvention.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   -   1 wire harness fixing structure    -   10 plate-like member    -   12 first layer    -   12 a first main surface    -   12 b second main surface    -   14 second layer    -   16 third layer    -   18 opening    -   20 wire harness    -   22 electrical wire    -   24 connector    -   30 electrical wire fixing sheet part    -   40 fixing member attaching sheet part    -   50 fixing member    -   52 through locking piece    -   52 a tip portion    -   52 b bottom part    -   54 regulation piece    -   56 column    -   80 vehicle body    -   82 ceiling part    -   90 destination member

The invention claimed is:
 1. A wire harness fixing structure, comprising: a plate-like member including a first layer and a second layer and interiorly mounted on a vehicle, the second layer stacked on a first main surface of the first layer and softer than the first layer; and a wire harness including an electrical wire disposed along the plate-like member and a fixing member attached to the electrical wire to fix the electrical wire to the plate-like member, wherein the fixing member includes: a through locking piece in which a tip portion is formed into a shape of being able to pass through a portion in the first layer where a hole is not formed from a second main surface at an opposite side of the first layer from the first main surface and is locked to the first main surface while passing through the first layer; a regulation piece provided with a space between the regulation piece and the through locking piece to stop the through locking piece from passing through a surface of the plate-like member; and a column connecting the through locking piece and the regulation piece.
 2. The wire harness fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the plate-like member further includes a third layer stacked on an opposite side of the second layer from the first layer and formed harder than the second layer.
 3. The wire harness fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the electrical wire is disposed in a flat state.
 4. The wire harness fixing structure according to claim 3, wherein the wire harness further includes an electrical wire fixing sheet part which is formed into a sheet and the electrical wire is fixed to by sewing or welding.
 5. The wire harness fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the wire harness further includes a fixing member attaching sheet part which is formed into a sheet, the fixing member is attached to, and intervenes between the regulation piece and the first layer.
 6. The wire harness fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member includes: a first member including the through locking piece and the column, a hole formed in the column; and a second member including an insertion part which is inserted into the hole to maintain a state where the through locking piece is locked to the plate-like member.
 7. The wire harness fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the plate-like member and the fixing member have characteristics that the through locking piece of the fixing member can pass through a portion in the plate-like member where a hole is not formed and be locked to the portion.
 8. A wire harness, comprising: an electrical wire to be disposed along a plate-like member which includes a first layer and a second layer and is interiorly mounted on a vehicle, the second layer stacked on a first main surface of the first layer and softer than the first layer; and a fixing member attached to the electrical wire to fix the electrical wire to the plate-like member, wherein the fixing member includes: a through locking piece in which a tip portion is formed into a shape of being able to pass through a portion in the first layer where a hole is not formed from a second main surface at an opposite side of the first layer from the first main surface and can be locked to the first main surface while passing through the first layer; a regulation piece provided with a space between the regulation piece and the through locking piece to stop the through locking piece from passing through a surface of the plate-like member; and a column connecting the through locking piece and the regulation piece. 